The time tracking industry has grown exponentially in the last couple of years. And given that more startups, small businesses and freelancers are using this type of software even in virtual office meeting space we shouldn't be surprised that the time tracking freeware options keep coming up from everywhere.
We should point out that most free options are actually freemium options from known employee time tracking software manufacturers. It's a good marketing and sales strategy to hook the customers with a free plan that's usually limited to a few employees or projects, and then have them pay if they're looking to expand their operations.
However, this situation does raise a question of how free employee time tracking software really is? In this article, we'll explore the fallbacks of best free time tracking software and see why you should and shouldn't use it.
Limited Functionalities
Since most free employee time tracking software options are a part of the paid software, it shouldn't come as a surprise that their functionalities are usually limited. The packages are often separated in three tiers - free, and two paid options.
With the free one, you can get a couple of basic features, which can be more than enough for you (depending on what you want from the software). However, you shouldn't expect that you can integrate the software with any type of project management or payment tools, or any other tools for that matter.
Limited Scalability
You might survive with basic functionalities of a free desktop time tracker, however, you can only use it for a certain amount of time - depending on the size of your team and your client list. Most free options are made for small teams (think up to 10 people maximum), as well as for few projects (usually up to 5). If you need to track more people or more projects, you must switch to a paid tier.
This is suitable for freelancers, and teams that are just starting out. But as your company starts to grow, it won't be possible to use the tracker and you'll need to set aside budget to pay for the software.
Limited Support
Customer support has become an integral part of every successful business. No matter how good the business is, it's inevitable that people will have issues or questions about it. Which is why all of them need a good customer support team.
Free employee time tracking apps lack proper support. In most cases, you can only reach them through email, and maybe wait a couple of days before you get a response. However, you should note that most of them have a knowledge base or a help center of some sort, so you can find the resolution yourself.
While this option is handy, sometimes the knowledge base isn't enough and you'll wish you had a phone number you can dial to get some help.
Wrap Up
Even though it's technically free, free employee time tracking software can cost you a lot in terms of unsaved (or even untracked) data. Additionally, you can't really rely on a software if you don't have enough support from the manufacturer.
And it's not that we have anything against it. Free tools are great for those on tight budgets, who are just starting out, but they're not a feasible solution for larger teams. In any case, we recommend that you try both options - free and paid, compare what you're getting to the goals and requirements you have. Only then you can select an option and be certain you've made a good choice.
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